iPhone 5c Sold More Units Than Android, Windows Phone Flagships Last Christmas

The iPhone 5c has been cited by many as a failure, but while the device is assumed not to have sold in as high a number as Apple might have liked, recent predictions from analysts based upon official financial info made available by the Cupertino suggests that the device has actually fared rather well. Even though Apple hasn’t offered a breakdown of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c sales, preferring to release figures under the general, ‘iPhone’ umbrella, analysts have done their homework and found that over the holiday period of 2013, the iPhone 5c outsold many of the market’s flagship handsets.

It’s worth pointing out that these figures are based upon estimates, but considering that they’ve been derived from official information right from Apple, we can at least assume that the numbers and statistics offered are relatively close to the money.

Apparently, Apple managed to shift 12.8 million units of the iPhone 5c through the Christmas period – a significantly higher number than many of its rivals. Nokia’s Lumia range, for example, which accounts for nine out of every ten Windows Phone devices sold, only managed to shift 8.2 million units, meaning that Apple’s second-in-command is still way ahead of Microsoft’s fledgling platform in terms of reach.

The ever-struggling BlackBerry brand, which spent the latter stages of last year in the midst of an executive shake-up that saw it appoint a new CEO, could only muster 6 million devices – less than half the estimated sales of Apple’s colorful, lower-cost handset.

As far as Android was concerned, the iPhone 5c also claimed one-upmanship on a couple of fierce rivals. The LG G2, for example, sold only 2.3 million units according to reports, which was a pretty poor show on LG’s part given how much effort the Korean company put into promoting it. Notably, its compatriot Samsung sold 9 million Galaxy S4 units during the Christmas period of 2013, but with its shelf life almost up and rumors, by that point, already swirling with regards to the soon-to-be-released Galaxy S5, it would be naive to suggest that the iPhone 5c was or is anywhere close to Samsung’s flagship

Many commentators have been touting the iPhone 5c’s demise, particularly with the imposing prospect of two new, larger iPhones releasing later on this year, but if these numbers are anything to go by, there could well be life left in the polycarbonate-clad handset yet.